Dr Erin Sanders-McDonagh, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, says ‘The recent measures being proposed by the Government to try to tackle knife crime will have no meaningful impact on levels of violence. Findings from my research with over 100 young offenders in London (many of whom are gang-affiliated) suggests that when very young people (those under 14 years of age) carry knives, they usually do this because of they are afraid of becoming victims of violence themselves’.
See the University’s News Centre for Dr Sanders-McDonagh’s comments in full.